Tool for installing hollow rivets



Oct- 24, 196 R. G. NEIGHORN ETAL TOOL FOR INSTALLING HOLLOW RIVETS Filed April 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TORS'.

R0 G. NEIGHORN BYAIKTHUR H. RANEY BUCKHORN ,CHEATHAM Z\BLORE ATTORNEYS Oct. 24, 1961 R. G. NEIGHORN ET AL ,56

TOOL FOR INSTALLING HOLLOW RIVETS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 21, 1958 ATTORNEYS Oct. 24, 1961 R. GJZNEIGHORN ETAL TOOL FOR INSTALLING HOLLOW RIVETSY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 21, 1958 A T TORNE S 3,005,566 TOOL FOR INSTALLING HOLLOW RIVETS Roy G. Neighorn and Arthur H. Raney, Portland, Greg assignors to Omark Industries, Inc, Portland, Oreg., a corporation of Oregon Filed Apr. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 729,811 7 Claims. (Cl. 218-34) This invention relates to a tool for installing hollow rivets and more particularly to a tool which may be easily loaded with a rivet and mandrel assembly and which is of simple and rugged construction capable of being used to rapidly install hollow rivets of the blind rivet type by expanding the shank portions of the rivets while such shank portions are positioned in aligned apertures in the work pieces being riveted together.

The tool of the present invention automatically feeds a hollow rivet along a mandrel into position to be installed as soon as a previous operation of the tool to install a rivet has been completed and the operating parts of the tool are returned to their normal position. Such feeding operation moves a rivet to the exterior of the tool at one end of the tool into engagement with an enlarged head on the mandrel. Upon inserting such rivet into aligned apertures in work pieces to be joined, the tool may be actuated to pull the head of the mandrel through such rivet to thereby expand the shank of the rivet.

In order to enable the rivets to be fed into position to be installed, the end of the tool referred to above is provided with a jaw structure including a pair of jaw elements which in their closed position constitute an anvil for holding in position the head of the rivet to be expanded. The jaw elements automatically open as a rivet is fed from the body of the tool into position to be installed. The jaws are resiliently urged to closed position so as to close behind the head of the rivet fed there: through.

The rivet feeding mechanism includes a rivet follower slider which is spring pressed toward the jaw structure of the tool and such slider engages the rivets positioned upon the mandrel to urge the rivets toward and through the jaw structure. The top of the tool has an open groove or channel in which the slider is mounted and guided and a releasable catch is provided for holding the slider in retracted position during loading of the tool. The rear end of the mandrel is gripped in a mandrel gripping structure and such mandrel gripping structure is moved rearwardly when the tool is operated so as to pull the head of the mandrel through the rivet being installed.

The body of the tool is made of two complementary frame members which form the two sides of the tool frame and which are substantially mirror images of each other. The mandrel gripping structure has a slide mounted in guides formed in the two frame members of the tool. Both the mandrel gripping structure and the rivet follower slider, above referred to are thus held in position when the two frame members of the tool are assems bled. Also an operating lever for actuating the tool is journaled on a pivot extending between the two frame members of the tool and is held in position when such members are assembled. Such lever carries a roller engaging the slide of the mandrel gripping structure to move such structure and pull the head of the mandrel through a rivet.

The jaw structure includes a housing for the jaw ele-v ments which is releasably attached to the rivet installing end of the tool so that alternate jaw structures containing jaw elements of various sizes for difierent sized rivets may be readily substituted for each other. The rivet follower slider as well as the mandrel gripping structure are both provided with slots in their upper surfaces 3,005,566 Patented Oct. 24., 1961 which are. in alignment with and extend in the same direction as the open channel in the top of the tool. This enables a mandrel with a plurality of rivets strung thereon to be inserted laterally into the top of the tool. The head end of the mandrel is first inserted through the jaw structure, the channel in the top of the tool forming a passageway leading into the housing for the jaws. The other end of the mandrel is then positioned in the slots in the rivet follower slider and in the mandrel gripping structure by a movement transverse of the mandrel. The mandrel gripping structure includes replaceable gripping members and an operating mechanism which holds the gripping members securely in gripping relationship with the mandrel. By releasing the gripping members a used mandrel may be quickly removed from the tool. A new mandrel and rivet assembly can then be rapidly installed in the tool and the rivets then rapidly installed.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved tool for installing hollow rivets which may be rapidly loaded with a plurality of rivets and which can be employed to rapidly and efliciently install such rivets.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a tool for installing hollow rivets which includes an improved jaw structure enabling rapid feeding of the rivets through e jaws while providing a rigid anvil for such rivets during the rivet expanding operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hollow rivet installing tool in which an easily replaceable jaw structure enables jaws of different sizes for different sized rivets to be rapidly substituted for each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool for installing hollow rivets in which an improved rivet feeding mechanism automatically and rapidly feeds rivets through the jaws of the tool.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mandrel gripping structure for a tool for installing hollow rivets in which the end of the mandrel remote from the jaw structure of the tool is securely gripped between replaceable gripping elements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tool for installing hollow rivets in which the devices for feeding rivets through the rivet jaws and for pulling a rivet mandrel rearwardl'y to expand a rivet are held in position between two side members making up the body of the tool when said side members are assembled and secured together.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description of preferred embodiments shown in the attached drawing of which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the tool of the present invention with a rivet and mandrel assembly in position therein and with parts broken away to show internal structure;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the tool of FIG. 1 showing the mandrel gripping structure moved rearwardly from its normal position;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the tool of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the mandrel gripping structure in its normal position, with the mandrel removed from the tool and with the rivet follower slider in its rearward position;

FIG. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 and showing the latch for the rivet follower slider;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom view of the latch for the rivet follower slider and a portion of such slider removed from the tool and shown in the slider latching position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the rivet follower slider;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation of the mandrel gripping structure of the tool looking to the left in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 3 and showing the mandrel gripping structure; 7 7

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of the jaw structure of the tool of FIGS. 1 to 3 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 11 is a vertical longitudinal section of the jaw structure taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10 and showing the jaw elements closed behind the head of a rivet;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing the jaw elements opened during the passage of a rivet therethrough;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing a modified type of jaw structure;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 1414 of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal horizontal section taken on the 1ine.1515 of FIG. 13.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawing, the frame of the tool of the present invention includes two similar side frame members 20 and 22' extending vertically and longitudinally of the tool. The tool frame is thus made up of two halves and is divided. along a plane extending vertically and longitudinally of the tool. Except for minor details, the two side'members 20 and 22 of the frame of the tool are mirror images of each other and are secured together by a plurality of screws 24- to provide a tool having a body portion 26 and a handle portion 28. The tool also includes a removable jaw structure 30 at its front end and includes a' reciprocable mandrel gripping structure 32 at its rear end. The mandrel gripping structure is carried by a slide 34 which is rectangular in cross section and which is mounted for reciprocation in complementary guide ways 36 formed in the two side members 20v and 22 of the tool frame. The slide 34 can be manually reciprocated by an operating lever 38 having its upper end positioned between the two side members of the tool frame and movable about a laterally extending pivot 40 having its ends secured in the side members of the frame. The operating lever 38 .carries a slide actuat ing roller 42 which engages an end of the slide 34 to reciprocate the samerearwardly of the tool. The slide is spring urged forwardly by a compression spring 44 surrounding a portion of the forward end of the slide and extending between the frame of the tool and a retaining washer 46 on the end of the slide 34.

It will be apparent that. pivoting the operating lever 38 in a counterclockwise direction in H6. 3 toward the handle portion 28 of the tool frame will'reciprocate the mandrel gripping structure 32 rearwardly of the tool and that the mandrel gripping structure 32 and operating lever 38 will be returned to their forward positions by the spring 44. The rearward travel of the operating lever 38 is limited by engagement with a cushioning member 48 secured in a recess in the handle portion 28 of the tool frame, which recess is formed between the two side members of the frame of the tool. The cushioning member may be of any suitable resilient material, such as rubber. The forward motion of the operating lever 38 is limited by an adjusting screw 50 threaded through a nut 52 positioned in a suitable recess-in the two side members of the tool frame. The screw 50 may be employed to limit the stroke of the operating lever 38 and, therefore, that of the slide 34 and mandrel gripping structure 32 actuated by the lever.

When the tool is being employed, an elongated mandrel 54, having a plurality of hollow rivets 55 strung thereon and having a head 56 at its forward end, extends longitudinally of the tool as shown in FIG. 1. The mandrel normally extends through the jaw structure 30 and is positioned in a longitudinal groove or channel 58 provided along the top of the tool between the two side members 20 and 22. The mandrel also extends through a groove 60 in the top of a rivet follower slider 62 and the rear end of the mandrel extends into a groove 64 in the top of the mandrel gripping structure 32.

The mandrel gripping structure includes a vertically ex tending body member 66 which is secured to the rear end of the slide 3-4, for example, by being cast in position on the slide. The body member 66 has a forwardly protruding central portion fitting into a notch 68 in the rear portion of the frame of the tool when the mandrel gripping structure is in its forward position. The body portion 66 has pivoted thereto a pair of complementary gripper members 7t).and 72 provided adjacent their upper ends with inwardly extending overlapping apertured lugs 74 and 76, respectively, the lugs being journaled upon a pivot pin 78 secured in the upper portion of the body member 66. The gripper members 70 and 72 each has a replaceable U-shap'ed mandrel gripping element 89 having a serrated gripping face and removably held in position on the gripper members by a pin 82 and a retaining member 84 secured to such gripper member by screws 86. The retaining members 84 each have-a rearwardly extending portion 88, the portions 88 of the two retaining members being spaced laterally from each other to provide a continuation of the groove 64 for receiving the rear end of the mandrel 54. The gripper members 70 and 72 extend downwardly and terminate at their lower ends in beveled cam follower portions 90 positioned to be engaged by a conical portion 92 on a nut 94 screwthreaded on'a stud 96 secured in the body portion 66 of the mandrel gripping structure 32. The lower ends 90 of the gripper members 70 and 72 are urged toward each other by a spring 98 having its ends received in suitable bores (not shown) in the lower portions of the gripper members.

It will be apparent that the spring 98 tends to move the gripper elements 80 apart so as to enable the rear portion of the mandrel 54 to be positioned therebetween. It will also be apparent that tightening of the nut 94 will cam the lower ends 9t) of the gripper members away from each other to move the gripper elements 80 toward each other and thus grip the rear end of the mandrel 54. The space between the grip-per elements 80 and also between the rearwardly extending portions 88 of the retaining members 84 provides the groove 64 in the rivet gripping structure 32 in alignment with the channel or groove 53 of the body portion 26 of the frame for reception of the rear end of the mandrel 54.

The form of the rivet follower slider 62 is best shown inFIG. 7. Such slider has a body portion 100 provided with a pair of spaced mandrel guiding portions 102 ex tending upwardly and forwardly from the rear of the body portion 100 and a'pair of laterally extending slide portions 104 extending laterally from the sides of the lower rear part of the body portion 100. The slider also has a forwardly extending rivetengaging portion 166 and the groove 60 for receiving the mandrel extends along the entire length of the slider including the rivet engaging portion 106 and body portion 100 so as to extend between the mandrel guiding portions 102 and be in alignment with the channel 58 in the body of the tool.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 5, the slide portions 104 of the rivet follower slider 62 are received in longitudirially extending complementary guide grooves 110 formed in the side members 20 and 22 of the frame of the tool. The. guide grooves 110 form lateral extensions of the lower portion of the channel 58 in the top of the tool. It will be apparent that the slide portions 104 and guide grooves 110 provide for longitudinal movement of the rivet follower slider 62 longitudinally of the tool between the jaw structure 30 and the mandrel gripping structure 32. The front end of the rivet engaging portion 106 of the slider 62 projects slightly through the jaw structure 30 when the slider is in its forwardmost position.

The slide port-ions 104' of the rivet follower slider 62 each has a loop elementln secured thereto to provide a connecting element for one end of an elongated coil spring 114. That is to say, there is a coil spring 114 on each side of the tool extending forwardly from the slide portion 104 of the slider 62 within the groove 110. The coil springs 114 are trained around pulleys 116 mounted in suitable recesses in the side frame members at the front end of the body of the tool. There is a pulley 116 for each coiled spring and such coil springs each have a return portion extending rearwardly of the tool from a pulley 1.16 within a suitable slot 117 in each of the side frame members of the tool below a guide groove 111). The ends of the rearwardly extending portions of the springs 114 are suitably secured to the side frame members so that the springs 114 urge the slider 62 toward the forward end of the tool. The springs are of suflicient length that the spring force remains Within operating limits at both ends of the travel of the slider 62. The rivet engaging portion 106 of the slider engages behind the rivets 55 of the mandrel 54 as shown in FIG. 1 to urge such rivets to and through the jaw structure 30.

In order to releasably hold the rivet follower slider 62 in its rearmost position during loading of the tool with a mandrel and rivet assembly, a latch mechanism including a latch member 118, shown most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6, is provided. The latch member is in the form of a small cylindrical element having a cylindrical latch element 121) of larger diameter intermediate its ends. The latch element 120 is received in a bore 122 in the side frame member 22 and is biased toward the left in FIG. 5 by a coil spring 124 surrounding the latch member 118. The spring extends between the latch element 120 and a screw 126 threaded into the open end of the bore 122. The screw 126 has a bore therein for receiving one end of the latch member 118. The other end of the latch member 113 is received in a bore 128 in the other side frame member 21) and such other side frame member 20 has a depression 130 formed in its exterior surface into which such other end of the latch member 118 projects. It will be apparent that the latch member 118 may be moved to the right in FIG. 5 by manually pushing on the end of the latch member projecting into the depression 139 and that it Will be returned to the left in such figure by the spring 124.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 6, the body portion 101) of the slider 62 has a latch engaging cam element 132 projecting downwardly from its lower surface into position to be engaged by the latch element 120 of the latch member 118. When the slider 62 is moved rearwardly which is in the downward direction in FIG. 6, the cam element 132 engages the latch element 120 to cam the latch member 118 to the right in FIGS. 5 and 6 and as soon as the cam element 132 has passed the latch element 120, the latch member 118 snaps to the left in such figures to latch the slider 62 in its rearmost position. Thus when the slider 62 is manually moved to its rearward position preparatory to loading the tool with a rivet and mandrel assembly, the latch member 118 holds the slider in its rearward position. When a mandrel and rivet assembly has been inserted into the tool, the latch member 118 is manually moved by the finger of the operator to release the cam member 132 of the slider so that the springs 114 advance the slider toward the forward end of the tool to cause the rivet engaging portion 106 thereof to engage the rearmost rivet on the mandrel.

The jaw structure 30 of FIGS. 1 to 3 is shown on an enlarged scale in FIGS. to 12. Such jaw structure includes a casing member 134 having a reaxwardly facing recess 136 which slidingly engages over and fits the forward end of the body of the tool. The rear upper portion of the casing member is provided with a stud 137 in a recess in the top thereof. The stud has an enlarged head which is engaged by the loop portion of a U-shaped spring member 138 having its ends bent at right angles and received in suitable apertures 139 (FIG. 1) in the frame members 20 and 22 within the groove 58. When the casing member 134 is positioned upon the end of the tool, the spring 138 can be snapped over the head of the stud 137 so as to be received in an annulargroove in such head to hold the jaw structure in position. A notch 140 is provided in the head of the stud 137 so that the spring 138 may be released from the stud by employing a pointed instrument such as the rear flattened end of a mandrel 54 to pry the spring from the stud head.

The casing'member 134 has an enlarged bore 142 in its forward end which receives the rear portion of two similarjaw elements 144. The casing member 134 also has a smaller bore 145 between the bore 142 and the recess 136, the bore 145 being concentric with the bore 142 and is in alignment with the channel 58 in the upper portion of the body of the tool. The bore 145 is preferably tapered so as to converge toward the forward end of the jaw structure 30 to guide the mandrel 54 and rivets 55 strung thereon into the bore 142 containing the jaw elements 144. The jaw elements 144 are each semiannular in cross section for a major portion of their length and when in closed position, the jaw elements provide a cylindrical forward portion of reduced diameter extending exteriorly of the casing member 134 and a frustoconical rear portion positioned within the bore 142 in the casing. The cylindrical portion has a cylindrical bore 146 which is partly closed at its forward end by inwardly extending lip portions 148' having inner cam surfaces 149 causing the jaw elements to be cammed open when engaged by a rivet head advancing through the jaw elements.

The jaw elements are urged toward a rearward or retracted position shown in FIG. 11 by a coil spring 150 surrounding the jaw elements and positioned between a washer 151 engaging shoulders 152 on the jaw elements 144 and a ring 154 closing the forward open end of the bore 142 and surrounding the jaw elements. The ring is held in the bore 142 in any suitable manner, for ex ample, by spinning or peening over the end of the casing 134. A frusto-conical cam element 156 having a bore therethrough in alignment with the bore 145- is positioned in the bottom of the bore 142 so as to be concentric with such bore 142 and be engaged by the rearward ends of the jaw elements. The rear or frusto-conical portion of jaw elements 144 have their adjacent edges 157 curved away from each other so that such jaw elements can rock on each other between the closed position of FIG. 11 and the open position of FIG. 12. The intermediate portions 158 of the jaw elements engage the ring 154 which forms a fulcrum about which the jaw elements can pivot. It will be apparent that the spring 150 will force the jaw elements 144 rearwardly so that the rear portions of such jaw elements are cammed outwardly to thus cause the forward ends of the jaw elements to be held in engagement in the closed position of the jaw elements shown in FIG. 11. I

The jaw elements 144 are notched at their forward ends so that they povide a bore 160 between their forward ends of approximately the same diameter of the shanks of the rivets S5. The forward ends of the jaw elements shown also have notches 162 on their forward surfaces forming a socket conforming to the head of the rivet 55, but it is apparent that the forward surfaces of the jaw elements may be shaped to fit any desired rivet head. In FIG. 12, the mandrel 54 is shown in its forward position. In the normal operation of the tool, the foremost rivet 55 would have moved with the mandrel through the jaw elements but to illustrate the action of the jaw elements, such rivet is shown as having its head between the lip. portions 148 of the jaw elements 144. The head of such rivet 55 will carry the jaw elements fQI'. wardly to compress the spring 150 and also to cam the forward end of the jaw elements apart. As soon as the head of the rivet 55 has passed through the jaw elements, the spring returns the jaw elements to the position shown in FIG. 11 to cause the jaw elements to close behindthe head of the rivet 55. When the mandrel is moved rearwardly of the tool in FIG. '11, the head of the rivet 55 engages the jaw elements 144 so that the head 56 on the mandrel can be pulled rearwardly through the rivet." The rearward stresses on the jaw elements 144 cause the cam member 156 to hold the jaw elements tightly closed. When the head 56 of the mandrel 54 has been pulled through a rivet 55 to expand the rivet, the rivet is left in position in an aperture in the work pieces to be secured together and upon return of the mandrel to its forward position, another rivet isfed into position to be installed.

A modified form of jaw structure is shown in FIGS. 13 to 15. The jaw structure of these figures includes a casing 164 which may have a rearwardly directed recess 136 of the same type as the recess 136 of the jaw structure of FIGS. to 12 and which enables the jaw structure of FIGS. 13 to 15 to be releasably secured on the end of the tool; Instead of having a circular bore in its forward end, the casing 164 has a rectangular recess 166 therein which communicates with the recess 136 through a bore 168 in a cam element 170 positioned in the intermeidate portion in the casing 164. The recess 166 receives the rearward end of a pair of jaw elements 172 which may be similar to the jaw elements 144' of FIGS. 10 to 12, except that the rear portions of the jaw elements 172 are flattened so as to have a uniform dimension in a vertical direction to thus fit within the rectangular recess 166. The forward open end of the recess 166 is closed by a ring .174 which has a rectangular periphery fitting within the recess 166 and the jaw elements are urged to their rearward or. closed position by a pair of U-shaped springs 176 positioned between shoulders 178 onthe jaw elements 172 and the ring 17 4. The jaw structure of FIG. 14 operates in the same manner as the jaw structure of FIGS. 10 to 12 and is employed where it is desired to position a rivet in locations which. would otherwise be difiicult to reach with the jaw structure of FIGS. 10 to 12. That is to say, the jaw structure of FIGS. 13 to 15 has a considerable smaller vertical dimension throughout its forward portion than the jaw structure of FIGS. 10 to 12. v V

To oper ate the tool of the present invention, a suitable jaw structure 30is selected and placed on the rivet installing end of the tool. The screw 50 for adjusting the throw of the operating lever 38 is then usually given a rough adjustment in accordance with the length of the rivets to be installed. Thus the screw is adjusted so that the lever 38 is moved rearwardly toward the handle 28 so as to have a short throw or movement for short rivets and is allowed to have a longer movement for longer rivets. The rivet follower slider 62 is then moved manually to its rearward position and is held in such rearward position by the latch element 120 of the latch member 118 engaging the cam element 132 proto release such slider by moving the latch portion 120 thereof out of the path of the projection 132 upon the slider. The slider is advanced toward the forward end of the tool by the springs 114 so that the rivet engaging portion 106 thereof is moved into contact with the head of the rearmost rivet on the mandrel 54 to push the foremost rivet thereon'through the jaw elements 144. That is to say, the head of the foremost rivet engages the inwardly turned nose portions of the jaw elements 14-4 to move such jaw members forwardly of the tool and the head of such rivet cams the nose portions of the jaw elements 144 outwardly so that the head of the rivet passes through the jaw elements. The spring 150 then moves the jaw elements rearwardly to the position shown in FIG. 11 so that the jaw elements close behind the head of the foremost rivet. The tool is then in condition for installing rivets.

To install a rivet, the foremost rivet, which is positioned exteriorly of the forward end of the tool, is inserted into aligned apertures in two work pieces to be secured together. While the rivet is held in this position by the tool, the operating lever 38 is manually moved toward the handle portion 28 of the tool by the hand of the operator. The roller 42 on the operating lever engages and moves the slide 34 of the mandrel gripping structure rearwardly of the tool against the action of the spring 44. The resulting movement of the mandrel gripping structure pulls thehead 56 of the mandrel through the rivet positioned in the work pieces to expand the shank of the rivet and lock such rivet in the apertures referred to. Such rivet is thus displaced from the end of the mandrel and upon release of the operating lever 38, the spring 54 moves the rivet gripping structure forwardly of the tool to move the head of the mandrel outwardly through the jaws of the jaw structure. The next succeeding rivet on the mandrel follows the head of the mandrel through the jaws by camming the nose portions of the jaws apart as described above. The tool is again in condition for installing another rivet. The stroke of the mandrel may be adjusted by adjusting the screw to suit rivets of different length or to make fine adjustments of the position' of the head of the mandrel relative to those nose portions of the jaws of the tool after the rear end of the mandrel has been gripped in the gripping structure.

When the supply of rivets on a mandrel has been exhausted, the mandrel 54 is removed from the tool by loosening'the nut 94 to release the gripper elements 80 from the rear end of the mandrel. The mandrel may then be withdrawn either-forwardly through the jaw jecting from the bottom surface of the slider. With the gripper members 70 forming part of the gripper structure'of the tool in open position, a rivet and mandrel assembly is installed in the tool. This is accomplished by first inserting the head of the mandrel through the jaw structure 30 from the rear end of the jaw structure. That is to say, the head of the mandrel is moved into the channel 58 in the top of the tool adjacent the jaw structure 30 then pushed through the bore 145 and the jaw elements 144 of the jawstructure 30; The rear end of the mandrel is then moved laterally into the slots 60 and 64 in the slider 62 and rivet gripping structure 32, respectively, with the rivets on the-mandrel in front of the rivet follower slider 62; The mandrel is adjusted longitudinally in the tool until it projects from the front end of the jaw elements v144 a distance which will accommodate a rivet in front of the jaw elements. The nut 94 is then tightened to cam the portions 90 of the gripper members 70 of themandrel gripping structure 32 outwardly to cause the gripper. elements 80 to grip therear end of the mandrel. The projecting. portion of the rivet fol-- lower slider latch member 118 is then manually clpressed structure of the tool or laterally and backwardly through the jaw structureof the tool. The rivet follower slider is moved to its rearmost position and another mandrel containing a supply of rivets strung thereon may then be inserted into the tool. It will be apparent that the tool described above is of simple construction as compared to prior tools and that it may be quickly loaded and then employed to rapidly install hollow rivets. The tool is particularly adaptable for using disposable mandrels, each of which is furnished by the manufacturer with a supply of rivets strung thereon and held in position betweenthe head of the mandrel and an enlarged rear end portion thereof.

While we have disclosed the preferred embodiments of my'invention, it is understood that the details thereof may be varied and that the scope of the invention is to be determined by the following claims.

' We claim: a

1. A tool for installing hollow rivets comprising an elongated body portion having a guide way extending longitudinally thereof, a slider guided by saidguide way for movement longitudinally of said body portion and having alongitudinally extending mandrel receiving slot open along the length of said slider, a jaw structure mounted on. the front end of said body portion and having openable jaw elements providing a passageway in alignment with said slot for passage of rivets through said jaw structure, a mandrel gripping structure mounted at the rear end of said body portion for releasably gripping the rear end of the mandrel, means for releasably holding said slider adjacent said gripping structure, said guide way being open along the length of said body portion so that an elongated mandrel having a rivet expanding head at its front end and a plurality of hollow rivets strung on said mandrel can be loaded into said tool with said rivets positioned between said slider and said jaw elements by moving said head of said mandrel forwardly of said body portion through said passageway and moving the remainder of said mandrel transversely into said slot in said slider and into said gripping structure, said slider being engageable with the rear one of said rivets to feed a rivet through said jaw elements, and means to move said gripping structure away from said jaw structure to pull said head of said mandrel through a rivet held by said jaw elements.

2. A tool for installing hollow rivets comprising an elongated body portion having a guide way extending longitudinally thereof, a slider guided by said guide way for movement longitudinally of said body portion and having a longitudinally extending mandrel receiving slot open along the length of said slider, a jaw structure mounted on the front end of said body portion and having openable jaw elements providing a passageway in alignment with said slot for passage of rivets through said jaw structure, a mandrel gripping structure mounted at the rear end of said body portion for releasably gripping the rear end of a mandrel, means for releasably holding said slider adjacent said gripping structure, said guide way being open along the length of said body portion so that an elongated mandrel having a rivet expanding head at its front end and a plurality of hollow rivets strung on said mandrel can be loaded into said tool with said rivets positioned between said slider and said jaw elements by moving said head and said mandrel forwardly of said body portion through said passageway and moving the remainder of said mandrel transversely into said slot in said slider and into said gripping structure, resilient means urging said slider into engagement with the rear one of said rivets to feed a rivet through said jaw elements, said resilient means including a pair of tension coil springs mounted within said body portion, and means to move said gripping structure away from said jaw structure to pull said head of said mandrel through a rivet held by said jaw elements.

3. A tool for installing hollow rivets comprising an elongated body portion having a guide way extending longitudinally thereof, a slider guided by said guide way for movement longitudinally of said body portion and having a longitudinally extending mandrel receiving slot open along the length of said slider, a jaw structure mounted on the front end of said body portion and having openable jaw elements providing a passageway in alignment with said slot for passage of rivets through said jaw structure, a mandrel gripping structure mounted at the rear end of said body portion for releasably gripping the rear end of a mandrel, manually releasable latch means for holding said slider adjacent said gripping structure, said guide way being open along the length of said body portion so that an elongated mandrel having a rivet expanding head at its front end and a plurality of hollow rivets strung on said mandrel can be loaded into said tool with said rivets positioned between said slider and said jaw elements by moving said head of said mandrel forwardly of said body portion through said passageway and moving the remainder of said mandrel transversely into said slot in said slider and into said gripping structure, resilient means urging slider into engagement with the rear one of said rivets to feed a rivet through said jaw elements when said latch means is released, and means to move said gripping structure away from said 1Q jaw structure to pull said head of said a rivet held by said jaw elements.

4. A tool for installing and expanding hollow rivets comprising an elongated body portion having a groove extending longitudinally thereof, a jaw structure mounted on one end of said body portion and having openab-le aw elements providing a passageway therethrough in alignment with said groove, a mandrel gripping structure secured to the other end of said body portion and having an open mandrel receiving slot in alignment with said groove, a slider secured in guiding engagement in said groove for sliding motion longitudinally of said groove and having a mandrel receiving slot therein in alignment with said passageway and with said slot in said gripping structure and open along the length of said slider, manually releasable means for holding said slider adjacent said gripping structure, said groove being open along the length of said body portion so that an elongated mandrel having a rivet expanding head at one end mandrel through and a plurality of hollow rivets strung on said mandrel can beloaded into said tool with said rivets positioned between said slider and said jaw elements by inserting said head of said mandrel into and through such passageway through the end of said groove adjacent said passageway and then moving the remainder of said mandrel transversely into said groove to position portions of said mandrel in said slot in said slider and in said gripping structure, means to move said gripjing structure longitudinally of said body portion away from said jaw structure to pull said head through a rivet retained in position by said jaw elements, resilient means returning said gripping structure toward said jaw structure, and means for resiliently urging said slider toward said jaw elements when said releasable means is released to feed a rivet through said jaw elements when said gripping structure is returned toward said jaw elements.

5. A tool for installing hollow rivets comprising a body portion having longitudinally extending similar side frame members secured to each other, each of said members having a longitudinally extending groove adjacent a marginal edge thereof and facing the groove in the other member to provide a guide way open along the length of said body member, a rivet follower slider having guide portions extending into said grooves for slid- 1ng n1ovement longitudinally of said tool, said slider having a mandrel receiving slot therein opening outwardly of said tool along the length of said slider and parallel to said grooves, a mandrel gripping structure mounted on one end of said body portion for movement longitudinally of said body portion, a jaw structure mounted on the other end of said body portion and having openable jaw elements providing a passageway therethrough in alignment with said slot so that a mandrel having a plurality of rivets strung thereon may be loaded into said tool by movement of one end of said mandrel through said passageway from the direction of said body portion and movement of the remainder of said mandrel transversely into said slot and means to move said gripping structure to reciprocate said mandrel longitudinally of said tool.

6. A tool for installing hollow rivets comprising a body portion having longitudinally extending side frame members secured to each other, each of said members having a longitudinally extending groove adjacent a marginal edge thereof and facing the groove in the other member to provide a guide way open along the length of said body member, a rivet follower slider having guide portions extending into said grooves for sliding movement longitudinally of said tool, said slider having a mandrel receiving slot therein opening outwardly of said tool and extending along the length of said slider parallel to said grooves, a mandrel gripping structure mounted on one end of said body portion and having a mandrel receiving slot therein in alignment with said 11 r a slot in said slider and opening outwardly of said tool, resilient means urging said slider toward the other end of said body portion, manually releasable means for holding said slider adjacent said gripping structure, a jaw structure mounted on said other end of said body portion and having openable jaws providing a passageway therethrough in alignment with said slots so that a mandrel having a plurality of rivets strung thereon may be loaded into said tool by movement of one end of said mandrel through said passageway from the direction of said gripping structure and movement of the remainder of said mandrel transversely into said slot, and means to reciprocate said gripping structure longitudinally of said body portion.

7. A tool for installing hollow rivets comprising a frame'having a longitudinally extending body portion, said body portion having a longitudinally extending groove adjacent a marginal edge thereof open along the length of said body portion, a rivet follower slider having guide portions in said groove for sliding movement longitudinally of said tool, said slider having a mandrel receiving slot therein opening outwardly of said tool and extending along the length of said slider parallel to said groove, a mandrel gripping structure mounted on the rear end of said body portion and having a mandrel receiving slot therein in alignment with said slot in said slider, a jaw structure mounted on the front end of said body, portion and having openable jaw elements providing a passageway therethrough in alignment with said slots so that a mandrel having a plurality of rivets strung thereon may be loaded into said tool by movement of one end of said mandrel through said passageway in a V .12 t direction forwardly of said tool and movement of the remainder of said mandrel transversely into said groove in said tool, said jaw elements having side edges in contact with each other and interior surfaces defining a passage for rivets extending partly through said jaw elements when said jaw elements are in closed position, said jaw elements each having lip portions directed toward each other at the forward ends thereof to partially close said a passage when said jaw elements are in closed position,

the rear ends of said jaw elements diverging from each other when said jaws are in closed position, a casing enclosing said jaw elements and having a rearwardly diverging cam member surrounding said passageway, said 7 rear ends of said jaw elements engaging said cam memher, said casing having fulcrum portions engaging the exterior of intermediate portions of said jaw elements, and resilient means urging said jaw elements toward said cam member to close said jaw elements, said jaw elements being openable by a rivet moved through said passage toward said front ends of said jaw elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 421,718' Ives Feb. 18, 1890 1,486,467 Spitzfaden Mar. 11, 1924 2,340,066 Lee .Tan. 25, 1944 2,401,724 Dowdle June 11, 1946 2,408,431 Lutes Oct. 1, 1946 2,570,801 Hamlin Oct. 9, 1951 2,595,551 Springate May 6, 1952 2,909,302 Hamlin Oct. 20, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,005,566 October 24,, 1961 Roy G. Neighorn et alo It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 7,, line 21 for "intermeiolate" read intermediate column 9 line 38 for "and" read of column 10 line 28, for gripjing'- read gripping Signed and sealed this 10th day of April 1962,

" (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER I DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

